Biosensor disposable apparatus

ABSTRACT

A disposal apparatus for biosensor includes a coupling member and a capsular wrapper. The capsular wrapper includes a space having a closed end and an open end to hold a biosensor. The coupling member has a coupling portion connecting to the closed end and a test strip adapter with two ends respectively formed a test strip insertion end and a test strip extended slot. The test strip insertion end passes through the slot and inserts into a test strip loading port of the biosensor. The capsular wrapper encases the biosensor to allow the test strip insertion end to insert into the test strip loading port. Through coupling of the test strip adapter, the biosensor can perform testing. After the testing is finished, the coupling member and the test strip can be wrapped together by the capsular wrapper and be discarded, thus avoiding user being contaminating with samples on the test strip.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a biosensor and particularly to a disposable apparatus for biosensor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Pleasing referring to FIG. 1, a conventional biosensor 1 incorporated with a test strip 2 is widely used in medical treatments to test substances of various of diseases and viruses and toxic materials, and also used in testing physiological information, such as blood sugar, cholesterol, uric acid, hemoglobin and blood oxygen. Various samples, such as blood, uric acid, tissue fluid, test samples and the like, can be dispensed into the test strip 2 according to test items.

The test strip 2 is loaded into the biosensor 1 for testing, and removed after the testing is finished. During removal of the test strip 2 users could be in contact with the samples on the test strip 2. Some of the samples could be infectious or have the hazard of inflicting chronic toxicity. People who are frequently in contact with the test strip 2 for a prolonged period of time have a greater risk, and with the users exposed to the infectious and chronic toxic inflicting environment the risk of infection in the hospital and community in a large scale also increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a biosensor disposal apparatus to remove test strips safely to protect user's safety.

To achieve the foregoing object the disposal apparatus for biosensor according to the invention is located on a biosensor equipped with a text piece loading port to receive a test strip to perform testing. It includes a capsular wrapper and a coupling member that can be used individually on the biosensor or used independently.

When the capsular wrapper is used individually on the biosensor it has a space to hold the biosensor. The space has an open end and a closed end. The open end can receive loading of the biosensor until in contact with the closed end. The closed end has a slot corresponding to the test strip loading port to receive the test strip into the test strip loading port.

When the coupling member is used individually on the biosensor, it has a coupling portion encasing one end of the biosensor where the test strip loading port is formed. The coupling member also has a test strip adapter with two ends formed a test strip insertion end and a test strip extended slot. The test strip insertion end can be inserted into the test strip loading port thus allowing the test strip to insert into the biosensor.

When used in a jointed manner, the coupling portion of the coupling member can couple with closed end of the capsular wrapper and form integrally. The test strip insertion end passes through the slot to insert into the test strip loading port.

The capsular wrapper can also encase the biosensor first, and then the coupling portion encases one end of the biosensor contacting the closed end and wraps the closed end.

The coupling portion can also encase first the biosensor, with the capsular wrapper providing a space to hold the biosensor and coupling member. The open end can receive loading of the biosensor and coupling member until the coupling member is in contact with the closed end.

Thus, the biosensor of the invention can contain the capsular wrapper and coupling member or anyone of them individually. After testing is finished users can fold the capsular wrapper inversely. When the capsular wrapper is detached the test strip or the coupling member contained the test strip can be removed without contact, or when no capsular wrapper is used the coupling member can be detached to remove the test strip to avoid direct contact with the test strip.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional test strip for testing.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIGS. 3A through 3C are schematic views of the first embodiment in use conditions.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the capsular wrapper.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the coupling member.

FIG. 6A through 6D are schematic views of the second embodiment in use conditions.

FIGS. 7A through 7D are schematic views of a third embodiment in use conditions.

FIGS. 8A through 8C are schematic views of a fourth embodiment in use conditions.

FIGS. 9A through 9C are schematic views of a fifth embodiment in use conditions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 2, 3A through 3C for a first embodiment of the disposable apparatus for biosensor of the invention. It is used on a biosensor 10 with a test strip loading port 11 to receive loading of a test strip 40 to perform testing. It includes a capsular wrapper 20 and a coupling member 30. The capsular wrapper 20 has a space 21 to hold the biosensor 10. The space 21 has an open end 22 and a closed end 23. The open end 22 can receive the biosensor 10 until the biosensor being in contact with the closed end 23. The closed end 23 has a slot 231 corresponding to the test strip loading port 11.

The coupling member 30 has a coupling portion 31. The coupling portion 31 is connected to the closed end 23 and can be formed integrally therewith. The coupling member 30 has a test strip adapter 32 which has two ends formed respectively a test strip insertion end 321 and a test strip extended slot 322. The test strip insertion end 321 can pass through the slot 231 to insert into the test strip loading port 11. The open end 22 of the capsular wrapper 20 has an inverse folding edge 221.

By means of the structure set forth above, for installation on the biosensor 10 (referring to FIG. 3A) the test strip 40 carried a sample can be inserted into the test strip extended slot 322 (referring to FIG. 3B) and connected to the biosensor 10 via the test strip adapter 32; after testing is finished, the inverse folding edge 221 can be inversely folded to detach the capsular wrapper 20 and wrap the coupling member 30 and test strip 40 to be discarded together (referring to FIG. 3C).

Refer to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6A through 6D for a second embodiment of the invention. It differs from the first embodiment by forming the capsular wrapper 20 and coupling member 30 individually (referring to FIGS. 4 and 5), while the first embodiment is integrally formed. In this embodiment the capsular wrapper 20 encases the biosensor 10 first (referring to FIG. 6A); next, the coupling portion 31 of the coupling member 30 encases the biosensor 10 (referring to FIG. 6B), i.e. the coupling portion 31 encases one end of the capsular wrapper 20 where the closed end 23 is formed to allow the test strip 40 carried the sample to be inserted into the test strip extended slot 322 (referring to FIG. 6C); after testing is finished, the inverse folding edge 221 can be inversely folded to detach the capsular wrapper 20 and wrap the coupling member 30 and test strip 40 to be discarded together (referring to FIG. 6D).

Refer to FIGS. 7A through 7D for a third embodiment of the invention. It also has the capsular wrapper 20 and coupling member 30 individually formed. The space 21 of the capsular wrapper 20 can hold the biosensor 10 and coupling member 30, and the open end 22 can receive the biosensor 10 and coupling member 30 until the coupling member 30 contacts the closed end 23.

This embodiment differs from the second embodiment by different installation sequences of the capsular wrapper 20 and coupling member 30. In this embodiment the coupling portion 31 of the coupling member 30 encases the biosensor 10 first (referring to FIG. 7A); next, the capsular wrapper 20 encases the entire biosensor 10 and coupling member 30 (referring to FIG. 7B) so that the test strip 40 carried the sample can pass through the slot 231 and insert into the test strip extended slot 322 (referring to FIG. 7C); after testing is finished, the inverse folding edge 221 can be inversely folded to detach the capsular wrapper 20 and wrap the coupling member 30 and test strip 40 to be discarded together (referring to FIG. 7D).

Refer to FIGS. 8A through 8C for a fourth embodiment of the invention. It merely employs the coupling member 30 to encase the biosensor 10 (referring to FIG. 8A) to allow the test strip 40 carried the sample to insert into the test strip extended slot 322 (referring to FIG. 8B); after testing is finished, the coupling member 30 can be detached to remove the test strip 40, and the coupling member 30 and test strip 40 can be discarded together (referring to FIG. 8C).

Refer to FIGS. 9A through 9C for a fifth embodiment of the invention. It merely employs the capsular wrapper 20 to encase the biosensor 10 (referring to FIG. 9A) to allow the test strip 40 carried the sample to pass through the slot 231, then insert into the test strip loading port 11 (referring to FIG. 9B); after testing is finished, the inverse folding edge 221 can be inversely folded to detach the capsular wrapper 20 and wrap the test strip 40 to be discarded together (referring to FIG. 9C).

As a conclusion, the invention allows the biosensor 10 to be installed with the capsular wrapper 20 and coupling member 30 at the same time, or the capsular wrapper 20 or coupling member 30 can be used individually. In all situations mentioned above contact with the test strip 40 carried the sample can be avoided. Hence after testing is finished and the test strip 40 to be removed for discarding, contamination of people with the sample on the test strip 40 can be averted, and the hazard of infection or chronic toxic infliction can be prevented. 

1. A disposable apparatus for biosensor, which is installed on a biosensor equipped with a test strip loading port, comprising: a capsular wrapper which includes a space to hold the biosensor, the space including an open end and a closed end, the open end receiving the biosensor until the biosensor being in contact with the closed end, the closed end including a slot corresponding to the test strip loading port.
 2. The disposable apparatus for biosensor of claim 1, wherein the open end of the capsular wrapper includes an inverse folding edge.
 3. The disposable apparatus for biosensor of claim 1 further including a coupling member which comprises a coupling portion connecting to the closed end of the capsular wrapper, a test strip adapter which includes two ends formed respectively a test strip insertion end and a test strip extended slot, the test strip insertion end passing through the slot of the closed end to insert into the test strip loading port.
 4. The disposable apparatus for biosensor of claim 3, wherein the open end of the capsular wrapper includes an inverse folding edge.
 5. The disposable apparatus for biosensor of claim 1 further including a coupling member which comprises a coupling portion which encases one end of the biosensor contacting the closed end and wraps the closed end, the coupling member including a test strip adapter which includes two ends formed respectively a test strip insertion end and a test strip extended slot, the test strip insertion end passing through the slot of the closed end to insert into the test strip loading port.
 6. The disposable apparatus for biosensor of claim 5, wherein the open end of the capsular wrapper includes an inverse folding edge.
 7. A disposable apparatus for biosensor installed on a biosensor equipped with a test strip loading port, comprising: a coupling member which includes a coupling portion encasing one end of the biosensor where the test strip loading port is formed, the coupling member including a test strip adapter which includes two ends formed respectively a test strip insertion end and a test strip extended slot, the test strip insertion end being insertable into the test strip loading port.
 8. The disposable apparatus for biosensor of claim 7 further including a capsular wrapper which includes a space to hold the biosensor and the coupling member, the space including an open end and a closed end, the open end receiving the biosensor and the coupling member until the coupling member being in contact with the closed end, the closed end including a slot corresponding to the test strip loading port.
 9. The disposable apparatus for biosensor of claim 8, wherein the open end of the capsular wrapper includes an inverse folding edge. 